Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanaths father Anand Singh Bisht was today admitted to AIIMS here with complaints of intestinal obstruction. A source at AIIMS said that he is admitted in the old private ward of the hospital under the department of gastroenterology and his condition is stable. He was admitted at 6:40 PM with complaints of intestinal obstruction. He was examined by a team of doctors and his condition is being constantly monitored. He is stable, the source said. Bisht, who was undergoing treatment at a hospital in Dehradun, was rushed to All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) in an air ambulance today.
Month: October 2016
Pakistan diplomats facing harassment in Delhi, claims Islamabad; read India’s reply
All is not well in India-Pakistans diplomatic relations. The neighbouring country has alleged that its diplomats and their families residing in Delhi were facing harassment. Islamabad has threatened that it may pull out its diplomats if this India, however, said its officials in Islamabad have been facing issues like theft and According to report, Pakistan High Commission in New Delhi has raised the issue with Ministry of External Affairs last week. In the four note verbale, Pakistan High Commission allleged about a number of incidents of harassment against its envoys and their family members. Indian High Commission in Islamabad was also apprised about this. Islamabad has threatened that it would pull out diplomats families from New Delhi. In the note verbale, Pakistan talked about 18 incidents Foreign Secretary H.E. Mr Vijay Keshav Gokhale was informed about this by acting foreign secretary to High Commissioner Ajay Bisaria and High Commissioner for Pakistan, H.E. Mr Sohail Mahmood. The note verable also alleged that two cars followed the vehicle (No. 89-CD-138) carrying the school going children of Deputy High Commissioner for Pakistan on March 8. Meanwhile, Indian diplomats living in Islamabad have also said they were being targetted. Pakistan agencies have raided the…
No one can raise question on government’s integrity and intention, says Rajnath Singh
Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh today said while there could be a debate on the performance of the BJP-led government at the Centre, no one could raise a question on its integrity and intention. After inaugurating a number of projects here, he said, There is no need to tell anyone as regards how our government is running the country. There can be a debate on whether more work has been done or less, but no one can raise a question on the integrity and intention of the government. Singh also added that no one has been able to gather the audacity of levelling corruption charges, involving even a single paisa, against any of our ministers. Stating that economists all over the globe had started believing that India was the fastest growing economy in the world, he said, At this point of time, the GDP growth rate is 7.5 per cent. Global experts have expressed confidence that in the coming years, it can touch double digits. Stating that the pace of laying new railway tracks in the country had gone up by four times since the government took over in 2014, the home minister said, A target has been set to…
On data leak to US company by Narendra Modi App allegation, KJ Alphons has this to say
Union Minister KJ Alphons on Sunday dismissed data leak through Narendra Modi app, terming allegations as fake stories. The PM very often use this app, which is his personal, to interact with the people. Yesterday, French security researcher Elliot Alderson had claimed that the app shares private information of users to a US company Clever Tap without their consent. According to ANI, rebutting reports, the minister said, You think Prime Minister is going to give your data to a private company! Don Earlier in the day, Congress president Rahul Gandhi alleged PM Modi was giving the data shared by app users to his Your biometric data is with UIDAI and let me assure you that it has not been breached, it We have given authorisation to government agencies to access Aadhaar information, Even as claims of data theft have been going on social media, a report claimed an alleged data leak on a system run by a state-owned company which allowed access to private information of Aadhaar holders , Indian Express reported. The minister had earlier also questioned those who do not have any problem sharing their We have no problem. But when the government of India, which is your…
Uttar Pradesh legislative Council election 2018 date: Opposition unity to be tested again; know details
Opposition unity will be tested during the UP Legislative Council polls, with arc lights on how the ruling party and the opposition chalk out their course of action. The notification for polls to 13 seats of the council would be issued tomorrow. The election would be held on April 26 and counting of votes would take place the same day. After securing a thumping win in the recently-concluded biennial Rajya Sabha elections from the state by bagging nine out of 10 seats that went to polls, the BJP is confident of securing at least 11 council seats going by its brute strength in the assembly along with its allies. In the 100-member UP Legislative Council, the BJP has just 13 members. The Samajwadi Party has 61 members, the BSP nine, the Congress two, the RLD one and others 12. Two seats are vacant. To ensure victory, a candidate needs 29 first preference votes, the state election office said. Arithmetically, the BJP and its allies are likely to win 11 out of 13 seats comfortably and still be left with five additional votes. Exuding confidence about the ruling party increasing its tally in the Upper House, UP BJP general secretary Vijay…
Arvind Kejriwal gets ‘maafi’ from Arun Jaitley but the defamation case will continue; here’s why
A joint plea was today moved by Union Minister Arun Jaitley and Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal to settle their over two year old litigation regarding alleged defamatory statements made against the BJP leader after the AAP supremo apologised for his remarks. The move by Kejriwal comes as no surprise as he has already apologised to several others, who had filed defamation suits and complaints against him. The joint application was mentioned before Justice Manmohan by advocates Manik Dogra and Anupam Srivastava, who appeared for Jaitley and Kejriwal, respectively. The court agreed to list the matter for hearing before the appropriate bench tomorrow if no technical objection is raised by the registry. Jaitley had in December 2015 filed a Rs 10 crore defamation suit against Kejriwal and five other AAP leaders- Raghav Chadha, Kumar Vishwas, Sanjay Singh, Ashutosh and Deepak Bajpai. They had alleged financial irregularities in the Delhi and District Cricket Association (DDCA) when Jaitley was its president. The BJP leader had denied all these allegations. He had also filed a separate Rs 10 crore defamation case against Kejriwal after his then lawyer, Ram Jethmalani, had used objectionable words against Jaitley during his cross-examination in the first suit. According…
Speeding truck overturns on Pune-Satara highway near Khandala; 17 labourers killed, 15 injured
At least 17 labourers were killed and 15 others injured when a speeding truck overturned in western Maharashtras Satara district in the early hours today, the police said. The truck, carrying construction labourers from Bijapur district in Karnataka, was going towards Pune when it met with the accident around 4.30 am on Mumbai-Bengaluru highway passing through the district, around 250 km from here, Sataras Superintendent of Police Sandeep Patil said. The driver apparently lost control over the wheels at an accident-prone stop near Khambatki ghat. As a result, the vehicle rammed into a barricade and then overturned, he said. At least 17 labourers died on the spot, while 15 others sustained injuries, he said. On being informed, the Khandala police rushed the spot and took all the victims to a nearby hospital, he said. The police were trying to ascertain the exact reason of the accident, the official said, adding that they suspect the accident occurred due to the drivers lack of concentration as he had been constantly driving and was deprived of sleep. The bodies were sent for postmortem and the process to identify the deceased was on, the police added.
Rains lash parts of Uttar Pradesh
Rains, accompanied by thunder and lightning, lashed parts of Uttar Pradesh, with Kaiserganj recording maximum of 6 cm rainfall. Light to moderate rains and thundershowers occurred at isolated places over the state late last night, The Met office here said. Kaiserganj recorded a rainfall of 6 cm, followed by Bhinga 5 cm, Bahraich 4 cm, Nanpara , Nighason and Kirawali 3 cm each, Gorakhpur, Biswan and Sitapur 2 cm each, Kheri, Lucknow , Moradabad, Agra and Mohamadabad 1 cm each, it said. The MeT has forecast rain and thunderstorm at isolated places across the state till tomorrow. Meanwhile, Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath today directed the officials concerned to asses the losses, if any, suffered due to the thunderstorm and extend relief to the affected persons without delay. An official release said a directive in this regard has been sent to respective district magistrates.
Ordinance underscores Modi govt’s commitment to women’s safety: BJP cheif Amit Shah
BJP president Amit Shah today described the Union Cabinets ordinance proposing death penalty for those convicted of raping girls below 12 years as historic and asserted that the law underlines the governments commitment to safety of women. He said such a law will act as a deterrent to crimes against girls. I thank and congratulate PM Narendra Modi as well as the Cabinet for the historic ordinance on womens safety. I welcome the provision of death penalty for rape of any girl below 12 years and increasing punishment from 10 to 20 years if a girl below 16 years is violated, Shah said on Twitter. The BJP chief said, The Cabinet has also made provisions for speedy investigation and trial of rape cases. This decision will act as a tough deterrent for such crimes and reflects the Modi governments strong commitment towards the safety and wellbeing of women, he said. A meeting of the Cabinet, chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, earlier today approved an ordinance to provide stringent punishment, including death penalty, for those convicted of rape of girls below 12 years, amid a nation-wide outrage over cases of sexual assault and murder of minors in Kathua and Surat…
‘Horribly black day!’ Fali Nariman exposes faults in Congress’ impeachment motion against CJI Dipak Misra
The Congress-led opposition parties decision to move an impeachment motion against Chief Justice Dipak Misra has not gone down well with many experts. In an exclusive interview to The Sunday Express, senior jurist Fali Nariman said the move will diminish the faith of public in the judiciary and pave the path for the ruling party to move against a judge if it doesnt like a particular judgement. He also termed the development a horribly black day in the history of the apex court. I have never seen a day like this. In my 67 years, I have never seen a day like this, Nariman said that opposition has accused him of forgery, but the four SC judges didnt subscribe to this charge. Nariman said that In an unprecedented move, four senior-most judges of the SC They had questioned the CJI over the distribution of cases and raised concerns about judicial appointments. The Congress-led opposition on Friday moved an impeachment motion against the CJI, accusing him of corruption, misusing his authority and failing to protect the independence of the judiciary. Nariman noted the final interpreters of the Constitution is the judiciary, not the Parliament, hence it was imperative to have extraordinarily…
Kumar Vishwas drags Arvind Kejriwal in Arun Jaitley defamation case, makes this big statement in HC
Dissident Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader Kumar Vishwas today told the Delhi High Court that his statements against Union minister Arun Jaitley were based on information received as a party worker from Arvind Kejriwal. Vishwas, who was present in person in court, told Justice Rajiv Sahai Endlaw that before making any statement or apology to Jaitley, he wants to know if Kejriwal lied when he said his allegations against the Union Minister were based on documents. The dissident AAP leader told the court that he needs more time to decide what statement he will make so that the suit can be disposed of as he was personally not interested in taking the matter forward. Vishwas is now the only one against whom the defamation suit remains after Kejriwal and four other AAP leaders – Raghav Chadha, Sanjay Singh, Ashutosh and Deepak Bajpai- tendered unequivocal apology to Jaitley in the Rs 10 crore defamation suit filed against them by the union minister. Taking note of his request, the court listed the matter for further hearing on May 28.
Rajnath Singh confirms CBI probe into SSC test ‘paper leak’
Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh on Monday confirmed that a CBI probe has been ordered into the alleged Staff Selection Commission (SSC) paper leak case, over which hundreds of job aspirants are picketing the Commissions office for days. Speaking to reporters outside the Parliament, Singh said the government has accepted the demand of the protesting candidates and a probe by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has been ordered into the alleged leak of papers in the Combined Graduate Level (Tier-II) Examination 2017, held from February 17 to 22. Staff Selection Commission (SSC) Chairman Ashim Khurana had also conveyed as much in a message on Sunday, in which he spoke of recommending to the Department of Personnel and Training to conduct an inquiry into all the allegations. The protesters, however, who are assembled at the CGO Complex on Lodhi Road, where the Commissions office is housed, seemed unconvinced at the assurance and despite the order, they have not vacated the place yet. An SSC aspirant told IANS that the assurance of probe by the top investigation agency in this matter is not enough and there are many other issues which remain to be sorted out. There are many other examinees…
Was Sonia Gandhi’s dinner meet a success? Akhilesh, Mayawati, Mamata give it a miss; here’s a list of attendees
In what was seen as an effort to showcase Opposition strength, leaders of as many as 20 parties on Tuesday attended a dinner hosted by UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi. The purpose of the event described by the Congress was to promote amity and friendship. The dinner saw the presence of NCP, RJD, Samajwadi Party, Bahujan Samaj Party, Trinamool Congress, DMK and Left leaders. However, a number of Opposition heavyweights were absent. Reports had earlier claimed SPs Akhilesh Yadav, BSPs Mayawati and TMCs Mamata Banerjee were supposed to attend the event, but they give it a miss. NCPs Sharad Pawar, SPs Ram Gopal Yadav, BSP leader Satish Chandra Mishra, JD(U)s Sharad Yadav and RLDs Ajit Singh and former chief ministers Omar Abdullah, Babulal Marandi, Hemant Soren and Jitan Ram Manjhi, were among the prominent attendees. The others who attended the meet included TMCs Sudip Bandyopadhyay, CPI-Ms D Raja and Mohammad Salim, DMKs Kanimozhi, AIUDFs Badruddin Ajmal and leaders of Kerala Congress, besides Kupender Reddy of the JD-S. For Congress, Sonia Gandhi, Congress president Rahul Gandhi, former prime minister Manmohan Singh served as hosts of the event. The other prominent Congress leaders at the dinner included Ghulam Nabi Azad, Mallikarjun Kharge, Ahmed…
30 injured as mobs clash with police in Assam; people were protesting recent Bodoland Territorial Council decision on land sale
At least 30 people were injured as mobs clashed with police and security forces in Assams Bodoland on Tuesday. The people were protesting a recent Bodoland Territorial Council (BTC) decision on land sale. The problem started in Kokrajhar and Chirang districts where people took to the streets to enforce a bandh called against the BTC move restricting the sale of land to non-tribals in the BTC area without the authoritys permission. The bandh supporters set tyres and an auto-rickshaw on fire and put up barricades in Charaikhola area in Kokrajhar district. Others blocked National Highway 31 at Sidli in Chirang district, affecting the movement of vehicles. Safiur Rahman, the driver of the auto-rickshaw which was set ablaze, received 40 per cent burn injuries. As the situation turned violent, the police first fired tear gas shells and then resorted to firing of rubber bullets at both the places to disperse the crowd, Inspector General of Police (BTAD) Anurag Agarwala told IANS. Police used minimum force to restrain the protesters. The situation is under control now. Bodoland, officially the Bodoland Territorial Area Districts (BTAD), consists of Kokrajhar, Chirang, Bagsa and Udalguria districts. It is run by the BTC council which is ruled…
Parliamentary panel red-flags Modi government’s ambitious healthcare scheme
The Modi government has released less than half of the budgeted allocation for health insurance of poor families in fiscal 2017-18, even as it promised to step up coverage with the proposed launch of what is called the worlds largest government healthcare programme. The revenue allocation of Rs 975 crore for the Rashtriya Swasthya Bima Yojana (RSBY) was reduced to Rs 565 crore and, as the year progressed, the actual release was just Rs 450 crore – less than half of the budget estimate, according to a parliamentary panels report. Funds as central share of premium under RSBY of approximately Rs 450 crore were only released for such states that submitted their proposal during the year 2017-18, said the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Health and Family Welfare in its report. As for the reason for reducing the budgeted allocation, the panel quoted the Department of Health and Family Welfare, saying: This ministry had moved a proposal for another scheme with enhanced cover of Rs 1 lakh per family. However, this proposal is still pending with the cabinet. Therefore, such states that were waiting for the new scheme to be launched did not submit any proposal and meanwhile stopped implementation of…
Devendra Fadnavis on Maharashtra farmers’ protest: ‘Government has accepted demands’
Addressing media on ongoing farmers protest in Mumbai, Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Monday said that their demands have been accepted. There has been a positive dialogue with the farmers leaders. Whatever tribals are entitled to, will be given to them, Fadnavis told media. In a big protest, thousands of farmers gathered in Mumbais Azad Maidan on Monday, marched from Nashik to Mumbai to draw the administrations attention towards their problems. Earlier in the day, Fadnavis spoke on the issue inside Assembly and said his government was sensitive and positive towards the demands of farmers and tribals. They are fighting for forest land rights. They are landless and cant do farming. The government is sensitive and positive towards their demands, Fadnavis was quoted as saying. The CM said a ministerial committee has been formed to discuss the demands with protesters, adding, the government will take a decision to resolve their issues in a time-bound manner. The Maharashtra chief minister said his government was in touch with the march organisers since March 6. He further said the farmers were adamant on the march. We tried to talk to them. All help was provided, like traffic management and deployment of medical…
VK Jain, Arvind Kejriwal’s advisor and witness to Delhi chief secretary assault, quits: Here’s why
In a big development, VK Jain, the advisor to Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, has quit. The development comes days after Jain was questioned by police in connection with the alleged assault on Delhi Chief Secretary Anshu Prakash. As per a PTI report, Jain has resigned from the post of advisor to the Delhi chief minister, citing personal reasons and family commitment. Some sources told PTI that Jain has sent his resignation letter to Chief Ministers Office (CMO) and a copy of the same to the lieutenant governor. Jain was appointed to the post in September last year. Earlier, Jain was working as the CEO of Delhi Urban Shelter Improvement Board (DUSIB), chaired by Kejriwal. Jain had gone on a week-long medical leave and had not been coming to the CMO since the incident happened. Jains earlier stands on the matter Last week, Delhi Police told a court that during interrogation, Jain disclosed that AAP MLAs Prakash Jarwal and Amanatullah Khan surrounded the Chief Secretary Anshu Jain. He added that he saw them assaulting Prakash at Kejriwals residence. Jains statement was allegedly in contradiction with his earlier stand. Earlier, Jain had allegedly said earlier that he did not see anything…
Ram Sethu case: Centre tells SC it will not damage Adam’s Bridge for Sethusamudram Ship Channel project
The Centre today informed the Supreme Court that in the interest of the nation, it will not damage the mythological Ram Sethu for its Sethusamudram Ship Channel project. The Union Ministry of Shipping, in its affidavit, told a bench headed by Chief Justice Dipak Misra that the PIL filed by BJP leader Subramanian Swamy against the Sethusamudram project can now be disposed off by taking note of its stand. That the government of India intends to explore an alternative to the earlier alignment of Sethusamudram Ship Channel project without affecting\/damaging the Adams Bridge\/Ram Sethu in the interest of the nation, the affidavit filed by the ministry said. Additional Solicitor General Pinky Anand, appearing for the Centre, said that the Centre has filed the response in pursuance of the earlier directions and the PIL can now be disposed off. Swamy had filed a PIL against the ship channel project and had sought direction to the Centre that the mythological Ram Sethu be not touched.
Some people have no problem getting naked for US visa but cry privacy on Aadhaar: Alphons Kannanthanam
Taking on those questioning the governments Aadhaar programme, Union Minister Alphons Kannanthanam has said there were people willing to get naked before the white man to procure an American visa but cry privacy when basic details have to be shared with their own government. The minister of state for also electronics and information technology assured that information collected under Aadhaar was safe and secure and claimed that media reports about data breaches were incorrect. Taking a jibe at Aadhaar critics, Kannanthanam said ten pages of information which you have never even confessed to your wife ever, or to your husband, have to be passed on to a white man to get an American visa. We have absolutely no problems going and putting our fingerprints and the iris and getting your whole body naked before the white man at all. He claimed the attitude of many people changed sharply when their own government sought basic information. But when the government of India, which is your government, asks you your name and your address, nothing more..theres a massive revolution in the country.saying its an intrusion into the privacy of the individual. I mean, how far can we go? Let the Supreme Court…
Information and Broadcasting Ministry forms committee to frame rules to regulate online news
The Information and Broadcasting Ministry has constituted a committee to frame rules to regulate news portals and media websites, according to an official order which came a day after the government withdrew its contentious guidelines on fake news following widespread criticism. According to the order dated April 4, the 10-member committee includes secretaries of the ministries of information and broadcasting, electronics and information technology, and home. Besides, it will also have secretaries of department of legal affairs and department of industrial policy and promotion as it members. The committee will also have representatives of the Press Council of India, News Broadcasters Association and Indian Broadcasters Federation. The order said the content on private television channels are regulated by the Programme and Advertisement Codes, while the the Press Council of India (PCI) has its norms to regulate the print media. It said there were no norms or guidelines to regulate the online media websites and news portals. Terms of the reference (TOR) or scope of the work include to The committee will also analyse the international scenario on the existing of regulatory mechanism with a view to incorporate the best practices. The committee will recommend On April 2, the ministry had…
SC/ST row: Case against BJP worker Raja Chauhan for firing during protest in Madhya Pradesh’s Gwalior
A case registered against a Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) worker Raja Chauhan for firing during a protest in Madhya Pradeshs Gwalior during the protest against the dilution of the Schedule Caste and Schedule Tribe Act. Chauhan was allegedly captured in camera for firing at the people during the protest here. The death toll in Madhya Pradesh due to violent protests during the nationwide bandh called by several Dalit organisations against the alleged dilution of the SC\/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act has reached seven after one more person succumbed to its injuries. Protests across the country turned violent on Monday after protesters resorted to stone pelting, damaging public properties and rail and various other blockades. Violent protests were reported from various states, including Uttar Pradesh, Odisha, Bihar, Gujarat, and Punjab. The apex court had, on March 20, introduced the provision of anticipatory bail in the SC\/ST Prevention of Atrocities Act while directing that there would be no automatic arrest on any complaint filed under the law. The Centre on Monday filed a review petition in the apex court to reconsider its order. a
On farmer suicides, MP minister Balkrishna Patidar’s shocker: ‘Police commissioner bhi suicide karta hai’
In a remark that has all the makings of a controversy owing to its abject insensitivity, Madhya Pradesh Agriculture Minister Balkrishna Patidar has termed suicide as a global problem, adding that all, including businessmen to senior bureaucrats, commit suicide. The minister was speaking to ANI on the issue of farmer suicides in the state. Suicide kaun nahi karta? Vyapaari karta hai, police commissioner bhi karta hai. Yeh poore world ki problem hai. Suicide ka kaaran jo suicide kar rha hai sirf usse pata hai. Hum log sirf andaaza lagaate hain (Who doesnt commit suicide? Businessman does it, even the police mmissioner does it. This is a problem all around the world. Only the person commiting suicide knows the reason behind doing so. We only assume the reason), Patidar told ANI. Madhya Pradesh witnessed over 20 percent rise in incidents of farmers committing suicide in 2013. According to National Crime Records Bureau data, BJP-ruled Madhya Pradesh is among the three states which saw a majority number of suicides by farmers or cultivators due to family problems in 2015. In 2015, Madhya Pradesh alone witnessed suicides of 709 farmers. According to Times of India, 2016 saw a farmer commit suicide every eight…
IndiGo passenger says manhandled, offloaded for objecting to mosquitoes on board; airline responds
In a shocking incident, a passenger onboard an IndiGo flight from Lucknow to Bengaluru has claimed that he was threatened and eventually offloaded from the aircraft after he raised an objection to the presence of mosquitoes inside the aircraft. The passenger, identified as Dr Saurabh Rai, alleged that he was manhandled by the crew member and forced to deplane after he raised the objection regarding mosquitos on board. Dr Saurabh Rai said, They held me by the collar and dragged me through the aisle, I heard crew saying if you have a problem with mosquitoes then why dont you leave India? Reacting to the incident, IndiGo said that the passenger was offloaded on grounds of his unruly behaviour. Indigo said that Rai expressed his concerns over mosquitos on board, but became aggressive and started using threatening language before the cabin crew could address his concerns. As the matter escalated after the closure of the aircraft doors, Rai attempted to instigate other passengers on board to damage the aircraft and used words such as Therefore, keeping in mind applicable safety protocols, crew apprised the pilot-in-command who decided to offload him, IndiGo said. Bengaluru-based cardiologist Dr Saurabh Rai speaks to TIMES NOW…
Maharashtra government to make adulteration of milk a non-bailable offence
The Maharashtra government may bring in a law State food and civil supplies minister Girish Bapat said in the Legislative Assembly that if the punishment for milk adulteration was increased to three years, there will be no scope for the accused to get bail. He was speaking in the Lower House after Ameet Satam (of the BJP) and others raised the issue through a Calling Attention notice. Bapat said at present, the adulteration of milk is a bailable offence having a provision of punishment for six months. If the imprisonment period is increased to three years, there will be no scope of bail for the accused, he said, adding that the government will soon enact a law to this effect. Many members in the House demanded life imprisonment for the accused in such offences. But, the minister cited difficulties in enacting a law with the provision of life sentence. Bapat said He, however, assured that the authorities concerned would be asked to carry out regular tests. The mobile vans would conduct tests more frequently on the milk carried in vans entering Mumbai and Earlier, Satam claimed that about He said surprise checks were not being conducted because of the shortage…
Maharashtra shamed: Unidentified group kills man, gang-rapes his girlfriend
In a shocking incident which took place in Thanes Nalimbi village on Monday night, a man was shot dead and his girlfriend was allegedly gang-raped by an unidentified group. As per media reports, few men approached Ganesh Dinkar and his girlfriend when they were returning home. The group demanded money from the couple. However, when the couple denied, the men pointed a gun at Ganesh. The men then allegedly attempted to rape Ganeshs girlfriend and when he resisted, the accused men shot him and gang-raped his girlfriend. As per reports, the group fled from the site leaving the victim and the dead body of Ganesh after committing the horrific incident. A police complaint has been filed against an unidentified group in the Titwala police station. Commenting on the incident, Titwala police officer Yogesh Gurav told ANI that the men chased the couple on a bike and demanded money. Later on, after killing Ganesh, they dragged his girlfriend to a solitary spot and then gang-raped him, he said. Since the incident took place at an isolated spot, there are no eye-witnesses to the incident. The police have launched a hunt for the accused men. Notably, this is not the first instance…
Donkupar Roy elected as new Meghalaya Speaker
United Democratic Party (UDP) president Donkupar Roy, the key partner in the NPP-led Meghalaya Democratic Alliance (MDA) government, was today elected as the Assembly Speaker. Roy, who is the longest serving legislator, secured 35 of the 56 votes, Pro-tem Speaker Timothy D Shira said. Opposition Congress nominee Winnerson D Sangma secured 20 votes only. One vote was declared invalid and one MLA abstained from attending the session, he said. Roys name was proposed by ministers James K Sangma, Samlin Malngiang, Banteidor Lyngdoh, Kymen Shylla and seconded by ministers Comingone Ymbon, Metbah Lyngdoh, A L Hek and Lahkmen Rymbui. Shira declared Roy elected after the secret ballots were counted. Roy was escorted to the chair by Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma and Leader of Opposition Mukul Sangma. Congratulating the new speaker, Conrad said, I am sure that with your long experience of being a member for seven times will give us the leadership we require. I know you will be fair and just and I hope you will be able to run the House in the best possible manner. He also proposed to the speaker to organize training for first time MLAs. There are 36 of them. Mukul Sangma, also former…
No April Fool prank: Navjot Singh Sidhu, Amarinder Singh to crackdown on ‘obscenity’ in Punjabi songs; here’s how
Obscenity in Punjabi songs: Punjab government has decided to set up a sabhyacharak (cultural) commission to keep a check on obscenity and glorification of arms and liquor in Punjabi songs. The commission will be headed by CM Amarinder Singh and Local Bodies and Cultural Affairs Minister Navjot Singh Sidhu will be the vice-chairman. The decision was announced by Sidhu on Saturday at a press conference where he said that the commission will be empowered to file an FIR against any singer who glorifies obscenity in their songs. The commission will be set up in 14 days and will be given shape by Punjab Arts Council chairman and noted poet Surjit Singh Patar. He will suggest total number of members who will be nominated as members of the commission. Sidhu further said that eminent personalities of the state have time and again stressed on the need of a regulating body to keep a check on the obscenity, glorification of guns and alcohol being used in songs. On whether the existing songs will be banned or not, Sidhu said, We will prevent and prepare, rather than repent and repair. We will deal with the present situation first. He said that CM Amarinder…
Karnataka Assembly election: BJP retains incumbents in first list of 72, Yeddyurappa to contest from Shikaripura
The Bharatiya Janata Party has released its first list of 72 candidates for the upcoming Karnataka Assembly elections. On Sunday, the Central Election Committee of the BJP released the first list of candidates while Congress president Rahul Gandhi took the ideological fight to new heights terming the state electoral battle as one between Karnataka and Nagpur, a reference made to the RSS. The battle between opposition BJP and the ruling Congress is turning bitter as polling dates approach. While the Siddaramaiah government is busy listing out its achievements and attacking the BJP-led dispensation at Delhi, the opposition BJP in the state has targetted the government over issues like corruption and indulging in appeasement. The BJPs list includes many of the partys incumbent 48 MLAs from the states northern, central and southern regions, including capital Bengaluru. Prominent names that are included in the list are partys chief ministerial candidate BS Yeddyurappa, B Sreeramulu, KS Eshwarappa, Jagadish Shettar, Basavaraj Bommai, CM Udasi, KV Hegde and Sriramulu. Only three women figured in the list, they are Sashikala, Roopali Naik and Poornima Srinivas. Yeddyurappa will enter the fray from his home constituency Shikaripura in Shimoga district. Currently, BSY is a Lok Sabha MP and…
Bofors case: Delhi Court to hear on May 11 CBI’s plea for further probe
A Delhi court today decided to hear on May 11 the CBIs plea seeking a direction to allow it to go for further probe into the politically sensitive Rs 64-crore Bofors payoff case. The matter came up before Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate Anuj Agarwal, who posted it for hearing on May 11 after noting that the original records file pertaining to the case was with the Supreme Court. Put up for consideration on May 11, The court had on February 17 deferred the matter for today due to non-availability of documents which have been provided to the apex court as it is seized of an appeal by BJP leader Ajay Agrawal challenging the May 31, 2005 verdict of the Delhi High Court quashing all charges against the accused. Agrawal, who contested the 2014 Lok Sabha election from Rae Bareli against the then Congress president Sonia Gandhi, had filed the appeal in the apex court after the CBI had failed to challenge the high court verdict in the top court within the mandatory 90 days period. The CBI had on February 1 moved the trial court seeking permission for further probe the matter saying it had come across fresh material and…
CPI(M) demands immediate passage of Women Reservation Bill from BJP government
The CPI(M) today demanded that the BJP government pass the long-pending Women Reservation Bill immediately and urged all democratic movements to raise their voice in support of the proposed legislation. The party also pledged to organise agitations all over the country to ensure that the Bill, which seeks to provide 33 per cent reservation for women in Parliament and state legislatures, becomes an Act. At the CPI(M)s party congress here, a resolution was passed which stated, The 22nd Congress of the CPI(M) demands that the BJP government passes this legislation immediately and urge all democratic movements to raise their voice in support of the Womens Reservation Bill. The Party pledges to organise agitations all over the country to ensure that the bill is passed. The resolution, which was moved by politburo member Surjya Kanta Mishra, alleged that patriarchal mindset and electoral opportunism of people across a sizeable political spectrum obstructed the Bill from becoming an Act. It said that in 2010, when the Bill was passed in the Rajya Sabha, the BJP had said that it was happy for being a part of history, but now, when the party has an absolute majority in the Lok Sabha and do not…